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The Buried
The Buried: An Archaeology of the Egyptian Revolution | Peter Hessler
From the acclaimed author of River Town and Oracle Bones, an intimate excavation of life in one of the world's oldest civilizations at a time of convulsive change Drawn by an abiding fascination with Egypt's rich history and civilization, Peter Hessler moved with his wife and twin daughters to Cairo to explore a place that had a powerful hold over his imagination. He wanted to learn Arabic, explore Cairo's neighborhoods, research ancient history, and visit the legendary archeological digs. After years of covering China for The New Yorker, friends warned him it would be a much quieter place. But just before his arrival, the Arab Spring had reached Egypt and the country was in chaos. In the midst of the revolution, he attached himself to an important archeological dig at a site rich in royal tombs known in as al-Madfuna, or "The Buried." He and his wife set out to master Arabic, striking up an important friendship with their language instructor, a cynical political sophisticate named Rifaat. And a very different kind of friendship was formed with their garbage collector, an illiterate neighborhood character named Saaed, whose access to the trash of Cairo would be its own kind of archeological excavation. Along the way, he meets a family of Chinese small business owners who have cornered the nation's lingerie trade; their pragmatic view of the political crisis is a bracing counterpoint to the West's conventional wisdom. Through the lives of these ordinary Egyptians in a time of tragedy and heartache, while drawing connections between contemporary politics and the ancient past, Hessler creates a richly textured and original portrait of a revolution and the people swept up in it. Whether he's investigating the relics of pharaohs, the neighborhood trash that Saeed brings him, the Arabic vocabulary lists from Rifaat, or the Muslim Brotherhood documents left behind after mobs have looted their offices, Hessler finds subtle and illuminating insights to understand a nation from a new perspective. What emerges is a book of uncompromising intelligence and glorious humanity. Through the lives of Saeed and Rifaat, we encounter a land in which a weak state has collapsed but its underlying society remains painfully the same. The Buried is an extraordinary achievement that unearths a new world for the reader, one filled with unforgettable people who escape their context and become universal.
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LeslieO
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September #BookSpinBingo
Here we go!

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! Good luck!! 3y
32 likes1 comment
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Lexeegee
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Pickpick

This was a very interesting look at the Egyptian culture.

Megabooks It‘s a great book! 4y
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Abailliekaras
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Pickpick

A great book that taught me much about modern Egypt through Hessler‘s engaging mix of reporting & personal stories. Sayyid the garbage collector a favourite (the friendship, & the intricacies of his job). I love his curiosity & open-mindedness - it‘s a pleasure to travel vicariously with him. Post- Arab Spring, the politics are interesting then bleak. People are warm & imaginative but the country poorly governed. Notably, sexism & poor education.

Megabooks It is a wonderful book! 5y
Abailliekaras @megabooks I learnt so much! 🤓 5y
47 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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Megabooks
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1. My last 5⭐️ read
2. Megabucks, long story
3. Like @howjessreads mozzarella sticks, but I haven‘t found ones I can have with my celiac disease
4. Walking the greenbelt with my friend and her kids if I can kick this cold. I still have a fever! 🤒
5. One 🤦🏻‍♀️

#friyayintro

TheDaysGoBy Hope you feel better! 5y
Megabooks @TheDaysGoBy Thank you 😊 5y
Laughterhp I would be very interested if you found gluten free mozzarella sticks!! 5y
Megabooks @Laughterhp Same to you! It‘s one of the things I‘ve never seen in the frozen section. 5y
72 likes4 comments
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JenReadsAlot
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Pickpick

I learned so much about Egypt from this amazing book!!

Rachel_nyc This is high on my TBR. Looking forward to it! 5y
JenReadsAlot @Rachel_nyc Hope you enjoy it! 5y
32 likes2 comments
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catiewithac
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Pickpick

The Buried is nothing short of stunning. The tiny print worried me initially, but the narrative is so compelling that I couldn‘t stop reading. The author weaves his experiences in Egypt with humanity‘s past, present, and future. The neighborhood garbage man is one of many intriguing people we meet. The Chinese lingerie dealers are a surprising delight! Beautiful and nuanced writing! #botm

Sunraven I foresee that my to-read queue will be much enlarged by having followed you. 😁 5y
49 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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catiewithac
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1. The Buried #botm
2. The Raven Tower
3. Super excited for Rainbow Rowell‘s sequel to Carry On, Wayward Son
4. I‘ve read 35 books of my 71 goal
5. @laurenslibrary #thursdaysurvey #latetotheparty

8little_paws The buried was outstanding!! 5y
21 likes1 comment
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BookBumming
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Pickpick

I am a smarter person after reading The Buried An Archaeology of the Egyptian Revolution by Peter Hessler. 🇪🇬 Full review in the comments⚠️
This is such an informative and insightful book about not only the politics of today‘s Egypt but also Egypt‘s, cultural and religious customs, family relations, and REAL people Peter and his family got to know while living there.

BookBumming The archeology on top of all that was just a bonus. I loved all of this book, but I especially enjoyed learning about the everyday life of regular people in a place SO different than America. Peter Hessler gave a voice to the Egyptian Revolution of 2011 and its aftermath that I never would have understood if not for reading this book.
So thankful I picked it up despite how intimidating it was!
5y
Severnmeadows I‘ve loved all his books- I‘m going to get this now 😊 5y
9 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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BookBumming
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My best friend and a good book. Who could ask for anything more? 🌻📖💕

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Hooked_on_books
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So now that it‘s nearly time to see the June picks, I FINALLY received my May #botm box! The down side of living in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, I suppose. I‘m loving the BFF tote. It‘s sturdy, roomy, has the book pocket of course, but also has a large zippered pocket inside. Nice!

Soubhiville Oh geez! I hope your next one arrives faster! Is this the one that had to be forwarded? 5y
Hooked_on_books @Soubhiville Actually, no. The forwarded one arrived faster. 🙄 I think they put it on a rowboat in California and it gets here...whenever. I‘m being zen about it, since shipping is free and that‘s not the case for many things to here! 5y
Cinfhen Ha!!! This was my May box 🙌🏻 5y
69 likes3 comments
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BookBumming
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I‘ve been craving a non fiction read! Good thing I‘m starting my May Book of the Month! It‘s called, The Buried An Archaeology of the Egyptian Revolution by Peter Hessler. I can already tell how informative it‘s going to be. I‘m a sucker for a book with maps. 🗺

Sydsavvy It was so good! 5y
BookBumming @Sydsavvy a little more than halfway through it and it‘s been suuuuch an informative read! I love it! 5y
Sydsavvy @BookBumming I‘m so glad! It‘s like: 🙇🏻‍♀️ who knew I could care so much?! 5y
11 likes3 comments
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Rachel_nyc
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I love coming home and seeing that blue #botm box! Very excited that they are now offering #nonfiction choices and I can‘t wait to read the tagged book.

BarbaraBB And Circe is so good too! 5y
Rachel_nyc @BarbaraBB Definitely looking forward to that as well! 5y
Nute So many recent BOTM selections make me want to rejoin immediately. I‘ve never heard of The Buried, but it sounds intriguing. 5y
Rachel_nyc @Nute I haven‘t started it yet but I‘m not sure I would have heard of it if not for BOTM. 5y
24 likes4 comments
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Sydsavvy
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I‘m totally sucked into #theburied —who knew the Egyptian Revolution could be so timely, so fascinating? #botm

catiewithac It‘s sooooo good 🤩 5y
Kristy_K So glad to hear that! It was a last minute addition for me. Hoping to read it soon. 5y
Sydsavvy @catiewithac @Kristy_K 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻 5y
43 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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8little_paws
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This book combines ancient Egyptian history with modern Egyptian history with a big dash of memoir and language study. A pleasure to read thus far!

45 likes1 stack add
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LadyElaine
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Excited to dig into this one! Pun intended.

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gossamerchild
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Got my #botm yesterday and I must say the tote bag is much nicer than I was anticipating.

I'm excited to dive into this intriguing nonfiction.

krismlars I agree about the tote! I love it 5y
Pruzy Now what is that book about? Either exploring the tombs in the eighteenth century or analyzing the Arab Spring 5y
50 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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8little_paws
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I LOVE LOVE LOVE my new tote so much! With my new job, I'm back to primarily commuting via public transportation, so this bag is just perfect for that! I started my May #botm as well and it was a great start to the day.

Caroline2 😍 5y
65 likes1 comment
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BarbaraTheBibliophage
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I never fail to get a little excited when new books arrive in the mail. Am I alone?

#botm #bookhaul #nonfiction

Freespirit No I get really excited too!! 5y
Lovesbooks87 No! I may have just hugged the Amazon box that had all my preorders in it because I was so excited to see it! 5y
LeahBergen The tagged book sounds great! 5y
93 likes1 stack add3 comments
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LeslieO
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Just realized it's my 3rd anniversary with #BOTM. That must be why I picked 3 books. Love the book 👜!

Reviewsbylola Great choices! 5y
LeslieO @Reviewsbylola I couldn't resist, they all look so good! 5y
Cinfhen I chose The Buried and 5y
45 likes3 comments
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DGRachel
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#BOTM arrived quickly. I love the book pocket on the new tote, too. It‘s like they knew I was “this close” to canceling and rolled out the #bff program just in time for my birthday month book! Curse you, BOTM. *shakes fist* 😆

#bookmail

Brewychock48 I thought the same thing. I was considering cancelling for awhile,then I got the email they were changing things, . Well,needless to say,I am not canceling. #booklove..#botm 5y
swishandflick I cancelled last month, so no bff for me 😐 5y
80 likes2 comments
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Librarybelle
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Well, that was fast! My #BOTM arrived today, with the member tote.

Brewychock48 Got mine today ,too. I love BOTM 5y
Librarybelle @Brewychock48 ❤️❤️❤️ 5y
Kimberlone Dang! That is fast! My box usually takes 2-3 weeks to get to me 😔 5y
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Copwithabook I‘m so looking forward to mine! 5y
Rachel_nyc So jealous of your quick shipment and of the tote! I chose The Buried as well. Really looking forward to it! 5y
98 likes6 comments
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LitLogophile
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VERY excited about this box. The tagged book looks incredible and I‘ve been wanting The Library Book since I read some great reviews!

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nitalibrarian
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I went with the non-fiction pick for May. #botm

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HardcoverHearts
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I love this time of every month. The BOMC club pick has been made! I‘m a fan of books set in Egypt, so I‘m especially excited for this choice. Plus I missed the boat the first go-round with Miracle Creek. It‘s all the talk on BookTube, so I figured I would grab it. What did you all pick?

27 likes1 stack add
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mrsthilkey
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I'm excited, I usually don't choose more than one book a month!! What did you all pick? 🌷🌼
#botm

LeslieO I picked those two PLUS How Not to Die Alone. And the tote, what a bonus! 5y
mrsthilkey @LeslieO I love bags! 5y
29 likes2 comments
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BookishMarginalia
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Our #BOTM picks for May 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

TheLibrarian I wasn‘t going to pick your 2nd and 3rd choices until I saw they were Liberty‘s picks. 5y
Gissy Tell them to ship to PR😫 5y
108 likes2 comments
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SharonGoforth
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Can‘t wait for these to arrive!! #BOTM

DGRachel I picked The Buried, too! 5y
SharonGoforth @DGRachel Awesome!!👍I think it looks great! 5y
40 likes2 comments
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Librarybelle
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Hello, #BOTM picks!

kspenmoll I ordered your #1 and#3❤️📚 5y
Librarybelle @kspenmoll 🙂❤️ 5y
Laughterhp I almost forgot I had a BOTM subscription 😂😂 (it‘s only month 3 of having it back) 5y
See All 6 Comments
Librarybelle @Laughterhp 😂😂😂 5y
Gissy They need to ship to PT😫😩 5y
78 likes6 comments
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Geeklet
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Book of the Month choices are up! I went with the tagged book because Egypt is awesome. I added a few extra books too because I‘ve been sitting on an extra credit for awhile. Plus I have like zero self control.

I‘m also apparently a BOTM BFF now. #botm

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8little_paws

Spoiler alert! Pretty sure this is a may #botm choice. Any others out there?

nomadreader That plus Necessary People, The Flight Portfolio. The Bride Test, and How Not to Die Alone (I think!) 5y
8little_paws @nomadreader good sleuthing!! 5y
stuck.in.the.stacks I posted the graphics on my page at the beginning of April. 😊 5y
See All 7 Comments
8little_paws @felinesandfiction I don't know how I missed these while searching for the tag! 5y
Beachesnbooks Anyone seen any spoilers for add-ons? 5y
8little_paws @Beachesnbooks @felinesandfiction posted the add ons for ya and nonfiction. I think that's all they're doing these days? 5y
Beachesnbooks @8little_paws Thank you! I missed them somehow 😂 5y
30 likes7 comments